The groundhog, whose formal name is Charles G. Hogg, famously bit former Mayor Michael Bloomberg on the finger back in 2009 but was more demure at the Staten Island Zoo Sunday. He shied away from a boisterous crowd of about 200 parents, children and political figures early Sunday morning who were anxiously awaiting his prediction.

Mr. de Blasio – wearing giant yellow oven mitts to protect his hands – lost his grip on furry Chuck, sending the rodent scrambling down the mayor’s arm in an apparent bid to ditch the public event and head for his woodshed.

“In Brooklyn, we bite back,” the mayor joked, borrowing words from Public Advocate Letitia James, who also attended the event. “Chuck has been forewarned.”

In the end, a zoo worker grabbed the groundhog and helped Mr. de Blasio hold on long enough for Chuck to predict a longer winter. Had he not seen his shadow, it would have been a prediction of an early spring.

There were audible sighs from the crowd.

At one point, Mr. de Blasio spoke to the creature, who is a member of the marmot family.